Meter-testing machine



pril l5 1924.

4 HASG'@ PHMUELER METER TESTING MACHINE Filed' Mafch 10 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet l v METER TESTING MAGHNE Filed March l 10 ,l 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. l5, 19224.

.aras

rarer PHILIP MUELLER, OF DECATUB, ILLENOIS, ASSIG-NOR T ADOL-I MUELLER, TRUSTEE, 0F DECATUE, ILLNGIS.

'METER-TESTING MACHNE.

Application filed March 10, 1920. 'Serial No. 364,679.

To /zZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l. .DHrLiP MUELLER, a citizen of the llnited States. residing at Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of llinois. have invented new and useful improvements in li'letereTesting liachines, ot' woich the 'following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in. fluid meter testers. The machine particularly adapted for testing water meters though it is, of course. applicable for use with gas or other fluid meter testers. Particularly the present improvements are designed for testing relatively large meters and among the purposes thereof may be noted the use of fluid actuating means for supporting` the meter being tested, such means being connected with the source of iiaid supply employed in testing the meter.

lin, the accompanying drawings :w-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a meter test ing apparatus embodying the present irnprovements.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale. of the meter support and means for adjusting the same vertically.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the connection between the meter `support and the safety valve devices controlling the same.

Figures l and 5 are detail views of por tions of the meter support.

Fig. G is a longitudinal section through the discharge head of the testing apparatus.

Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a side view and a transverse section through the .discharge head. illustrating particularly the valve therein.

Figures 9. and 11 are detail views of the valve mechanism of the supply head.

The apparatus comprises fluid supply and discharge heads 1, 2, which are carried by pedestals 4. shown as relatively heavy castings bolted or otherwise secured to a concrete or other suitable foundation 5. The supply head 1 is stationary relative to its supporting pedestal while the discharge head 2 is supported. as will be hereinafter more fully described, so that it. may be adjusted longitudinally toward and from the head 1 so that the meter to be tested may he properly engaged by said heads.

The meter support comprises a table or platform 6 which is carried at the upper end of a cylindrical piston 7 that extends into a cylinder 8 arranged in a suitable cavity in the earth and to which 'fluid is supplied for elevating the meter support.

As shown.y the table or support 6 is provided with an annular depending rib or flange 9 which is connected by screws or similar 'fastening means with an annular flange 10v at the upper end of the piston 7, gasket 11 being interposed between said rib or piston to form a fluid-tight connection. Exteriorly the cylinder 7 is provided with a jacket .7a of brass or similar 1naterial so that it can moveV freely in the cylinder 8. A body of packing 12 is provided for making a. fluid-tight connection between the upper end of the cylinder and the piston therein: anda packing 'i'b is arranged between the jacket'i'a and a ring 10a 4that is held against the flange 10 by the screws or bolts which connect the said flange with the rib 9. Turning movement of the piston and table 6 thereon is prevented by tubular guides 13 tha depend from said table and extend into cylindrical casings 14 that are connected as at 15A to theV cylinder 8.

Fluid for lifting the table (i is supplied to the cylinder 8 through a pipe 16 which is connected with the supply head 1. a suitable valve 17 being provided in said pipe for controlling the tlow of fluid from the main supply pipe to the cylinder. connected with the pipe 16 between the valve 17 therein and the cylinder 8 is a waste pipe 19 having therein a valve. 20. vrlhe cylinder S is pro vided with a drain outlet 21 which extends through the bottom of the cylinder and communicates with a valve casing 22 shown as bolted to the bottom of the cylinder interiorly thereof. This casing is provided with a plurality of lateral openings 23 arranged above a valve seat with which cooperates a 'valve 24. the stem 25 of which extends upwardly within the cylinder 8 terminating in an enlarged head 26. A spring 27 arranged between the valve 24e and threaded member 28 that is screwed into the casing 22 acts to normally hold the valve against its seat and prevent the escape of fluid from the cylinder. VMeans are provided whereby should the table-like support 6 be elevated slightly beyond the required distance to properly position the inlet and outlet openings of the meter to be tested in alinement with the passages through the heads 1 and 2 the valve 24 will be lifted and even if the valve 17 is not properjv closed the excess tluid supplied to the cylinder will be allowed to escape through the ports 23 and the pipe 21 and thus stop the upward movement ot the support. As shown, a depending easing 30 is connected with the loiver tace of the meter support 6, about an aperture therein and into this easing` extends the upper end ot a rod 31 which is connected With a yoke terminating` at its lower end in a sleeve 13 which surrounds the valve stem Suitable packing` 3st is provided to prevent the escape oit fluid into the easing 30 and the upper open end of said easing is Closed by a ren'iovable plug` 30l The upper end ot the rod 31 is so shaped that it may be readil)Y engaged by a suitable Wrench When the covering` plate or plug 30 is removed and the rod 25 and sleeve 3? which tits thereabout are ot polygonal formin Cross section it vvill be seen that by turning' said rod, bv'sueh a Wrench, rotary movement Will he imparted to the valve stem and the member 2S ot the valve Within the sleeve. As shoivn in Fig. 3 the member 28 is provided With an upivardlvv extending' neck portion 98a which eloselv embraces the polygonal valve stem Q5 so that rotarvY movement ot said stem is comnuinieated to the member 28. A Washer or collar 281 is fitted about the neck 28a ot the member 28 and vvhen the valve stem is turned as above described said ring and the upper end of the member 2S Will be caused to Contact with a collar a. secured b v suitable set screw to the valve stem, and thus litt the valve Q4 from its seat so that tluid can drain trom the cylinder through the Waste pipe 21.

The fluid srppljyv head is provided ivith a. gate valve Controlled bv a hand ivheel 110 and with a swinging' valve 4L the atoresaid pipe 16 tor supplving` ivater to the elevating; mechanism eoinn'umieatingr with said head betivtam these valves. rllhe valve 41 is adapted to be `li'tt'ed trom its seat b v turning a shatt 42 to which is eonneeted an arm tl at engages an arm 44 extending outivardlv 'trom the valve. The shaft -l-Q eX- tends to the outside of the head through a suitablv packed passage and on the projecting' portion thereof is secured a gear 4-5. This meshes .vith a pinion 1-6 on a shatt #t7 suitably journaled in the supply head and having1 at its outer end hand Wheel 48 bv means ot vvhieh it mav be turned. Means are provided Wherelrvv normall)v the valve L1-1 is looked to its seat` said means include a paivl 49 loosely mounted on the shatt 47 and having at its tree end a tooth that normallv engages the teeth ot the gear A, lever 50 looseh7 tulcrumed on the shaft 49. has an arm 51 which is Connected 'nv a link 52 with the paivl 4:9 and bv turning said lever the pavvl can be dropped trom engagement ivith the gear Ll5 and then, by turning the hand Wheel {1 -8, the shaft 42 may be roeked to swing the valve to open position as represented by dotted lines in Fig. 9.

The discharge head 2 is oarried at one end of a sleeve thaty extends through a suitable passage in the pedestal 11 and b v means of' a sereiv G1 and hand wheel G2 connected thereuvith said sleeve 60 and the head 2 may be adjusted longitudinallv toward and from the relativelf,4 statiorutryY supply head 1. A valve 62 carried by? an arm 33 eX- tending,` from shatt 6ft normallyv Closes the tluid passage throi'fg'h said discharge head as shovfn in l (i. The shatt (it ef-:tends to the outside the sleeve G0 and on its outer end is seeured `'ear 65 with which meshes a pinion 6G on a short shatt having; at its outer end a hand ivheel 67. 1t will. be readiliT seen that bv turning the Wheel 67 the valve 62 can be moved to or from a position Where it will close the tluid passage through. the discharge head` a recess 60 being provided to receive the arm 63 when the valve is in open position so that the latter will then otter no praetieal obstruetion to the iiow oi fluid through the discharge head, sleeve 60 and pipe lead.- ing` therefrom.

A suitable `gate valve aetuated by a member G9 is provided for eoutrolling` the flow ot tluid through the outlet pipe 68 and the apparatus illustrated is further provided with a large multiple oook 70. A liraneh pipe 21 ot eonsiderablv less diameter than the outlet GS leads troni said outlet pipe to a multiple cook T2 and a `Qate valve oontrolled lijf a lever 73 is arranged in said branch duet.h

The general arrangement ot parts and the eonstruetion oi a number oi the elements of the apparatus hereinbetore described is similar to that ot an earlier Patent No. lll-39.182 dated September 10` 1912. and therefore some ot the illustration herein is more or less eonveotional. The present apparatus is designed partielilarlf.'v Jfor testingy meters of sueh size and Weightas Cannot he readily handled vvith a machine or apparatus ot' the construct-ion shovvn in the patent referred to. the present improvements relatingr more partieularlv to the meter supportingdevices and means tor adjusting' the same vertioallv.

1t is, believed that the manner ot using and the advantages ineident to such an apparatus as is hereinbe'tore deseribed and illustrated in the drawings \.vill be readily understood and appreciated.

The grate valve ot the supplv head inav be open eontinuouslj,7 but the valves 41. 1.7 and 2O are normallv Closed. Normallv the meter support G Will oeeupv the position shown in full lines in Figi'. 1. fitter a meter to be tested has been positioned ou said support the valve 17 will be opened and fluid titif stopped when meent/s admitted through the pipe lo to the lower end ot the cylinder S thus raising the piston therein until the meter` to be tested reaches a level where its inletand outlet passages will tol er alinenient with the supply and vrL e heads. in case the valve l? is not properly closed when the parts are in this relation continued upward mov .nent ot the meter support will cause the sleeve 353 to engage the head 26 of the valve -iand litt the latter trom its seat so that the excess :duid may freely escape through the pipe 2L. llliereiiore the piston or plunger connected "ith the meter support is automatically it reaches the elevation appioximating that ot the centers ot the inlet arfls. hen. in order to lower the meter upport to bi the meter into ilineinent with the supply and discharge heads, it is only necessary to slightly open valve 20, when a suiicient amount of the fluid contained in the cylinder 8 will be forced out through pipes l@ and 19 to bring the meter into proper alinement. Valve 2O is then again closed. By manipulating the hand wheel 62 the discharge head. will be brought into proper engagement with the ieter and the latter caused to properly enthe supoly head l, after which, by proper manipulation ot the several valves, in the manner de... ibed in the patent hereinhet'ore referred to., tluid will be caused to rlow from the head l through the meter to the discharge head. in order to lower the meter or return the parts to the position shown in l the valve 4l is closed and the valve 20 opened when the fluid contained in the cylinder o will be forced out through the pipes l@ and 19. it it is desired to entirely drain the cylinder the rod 3l may be rotated as before described to cause the member 28 oi the valve casing within the cylinder to be elevated and through the collar lift the valve Yfrom its seat. By closing the valve 62 when ren'ioving a meter from testing position waste ot water contained in the discharge head will be avoided and several meters can be tested in succession more eX- pedi tiously than it this valve is left open and water in sail valve allowed to escape after cach operation. o w

'Having thus described the invention what claimed is 1. y A meter tester comprising suitable fluid supply and disch arge heads adapted to be connected with the inlet and outlet openings o a meter casing, `a vertically movable support for a meter to be tested, hydraulic means tor elevating said support and maintaining it in position to enable a meter thereo n to be coupled to said heads, and automatically acting means 'for limiting upward movement ot the meter support.

" 2. A water meter tester comprising a suitable supply and discharge head adapted to be connected with the inlet and outlet openings of a meter casing, a vertically adjustable meter support between said heads, and a hydraulic means connected with the supply head and adapted to elevate the meter support and maintain a meter thereon in position to be coupled to said heads.

3. A meter tester comprising suitable iiuid supply and discharge heads adapted to be connected with the inlet and outlet openings ot a meter casing, a vertically movable support for a meter to be tested, a vertically arranged cylinder between said heads, a plunger extending through the upper end of the cylinder and adapted to support a meter to be tested, connections between the supply head and said cylinder, whereby water may be supplied to the cylinder to raise the plunger and bring a meter thereon into position to be coupled to said heads, and means for permitting the escape of water from the cylinder.

l. A meter tester comprising suitable fluid supply and discharge heads adapted to be connected with the inlet and outlet openings of a meter casing, a vertically movable support for a meter to be tested, a vertically arranged cylinder between said heads, a plunger extending through the upper end of the cylinder and adapted to support a meter to be tested, connections between the supply head and said cylinder, whereby water may be supplied to the cylinder to raise the plunger and bring a meter thereon into position to be coupled to said heads, means for limiting upward movement of the plunger, and means for permitting the escape of water trom the cylinder.

5. In a meter tester, the combination of supply and discharge heads adapted to be connected respectively with inlet and outlet openings of a meter casing` a vertical cylinder between said heads and below the horizontal plane thereof, a plunger within and projecting above the cylinder and adapted to support a meter to be tested, means for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder to elevate the plunger and bring a meter thereon into position to be coupled to said heads, a valve 'controlling an outlet from the cylinder, and means moving vertically with the plunger adapted to automatically actuate said valve to open the outlet controlled there- 'by when the plunger is elevated toV a pre-` der to elevate the plunger and bring a meterV a il (3 nu ned extent.

ln a meter on or lv and disnb to be M' iesnei outlet openings oLt a meter casing, vertical cylinder between said heads and below the horizont-al plane thereof, a plunger within and projecting above 'the cylinder, a table tor supporting a meter mounted onl the upper end ot the plunger and provided with a plurality ot depen `ig members, guides ttor said members supported by the cylinder, means for supplying `lluid under pressure to the cylinder, a valve within the cylinder controlling an outlet therefrom, and means connected with the meter support tor actuating the valve to open the outlet controlled thereby when the plunger has been raised to a predetermined extent.

8. In a meter tester, the combination of supply and discharge heads adapted to be connected respectively with inlet and outlet openings ot meter casing, a vertical c vlinder between said heads and below the horizontal plane thereof, a plunger within and projecting above the cylinder and adapted to supported a meter to be tested, means ttor supplying liuid under pressure to the cylinder to elevate the plunger and bring a meter thereon into position to be coupled to said heads, a valve controlling an outlet from the cylinder, means connected with the plunger adaptel to actuate the valve to open said outlet when the plunger israised a predetermined extent, and means tor edecting relative adjustment between the valve and said actuating member connected with the plunger.

9. In a meter tester, the combination of supply and discharge heads adapted to be connected with inlet and outlet openings of a meter casing, a table-like support for a meter to be tested, a hydraulic elevator connected with said support and adapted to adjust it to bring a meter casing thereon into position to be coupled to said heads, means tor automatically .limiting movement ot said support toward the. plane of said heads, and a common source of supply for the elevator and the supply head.

10. In a meter tester, the combination of supply and discharge heads adapted to be connected respectively with inlet and outlet openings ot meter casing, a vertical cylinder between said heads and below the horizontal planethereof, a plunger within and projectimT above the cylinder and adapted ineen-vs to supperA a meter to he tested, means lor supplying tluid under pressure to the cylinder to elevate the plunger and bring a ieter thereon into position to be coupled to said heads, a valve within the cylinder controlling an outlet therefrom, and means for automatically actuating said valve when the plunger is elevated to a predetermined extent.

ll. In a fluid meter testing machine, the combination ot two heads adapted to be respectively connected with the inlet and outlet openings of a meter, a vertically movable support for a meter to be tested adapted to position a meter thereon for connection with said heads, a l'iydraulic elevating means having its movable, member connected to the meter support, means t'or supplying water to said elevating i'neans,` and means toizautomatically checking the relative movement of the elements of the hydraulic elevating means and permitting the excess water to waste therefrom when the meter support is in operative relation to the supply and discharge heads.

l2. In a fluid meter testing machine, the combination ot' two heads adapted to be respectively connected with the inlet and outlet openings ot a meter, a vertically movable support tor a meter to be tested adapted to position a meter thereon tor connection with said heads, a cylinder, a plunger within and extending beyond one end of the cylinder, means connected with the plunger for supporting a meter to be tested, a spring pressed valve normally closing a waste outlet from the cylinder, means for supplying fluid to the cylinder to move the plunger therein and bring the meter support into operative relation to said heads and means for automatically actuating the waste valve when the meter support is in said position.

13. A fluid meter testing machine comprising relatively elevated fluid supply and discharge heads, a support for a meter to be tested movable from a plane near the base of the supply and dischargeheads to a materially higher plane where the inlet and outlet openings ot the meter will be in alignment with the tluid passages in the supply and discharge heads, and hydraulic means for elevating said support and the meter and maintaining them at an elevation where the inlet and outlet openings of the meter casing are in alignment with the iuid passages in the supply and discharge heads.

14A. A tluid meter tester comprising suitable supply and discharge heads having relatively elevated liuid passages adapted to be connected with the inlet and outlet penings of a meter casing, a vertically movable support for a meter to be tested positioned between said heads, hydraulic means for elevating the support from a level or plane adjacent that ot the bases of the supply and discharge heads to a plane Where the inin the cylinder for automatically checking let and supply openings of a metei1 thereon relative movement between the piston and Will be in alignment With the luid pascylinder When the mete);1 support reaches a 10 sages in the supply and discharge heads, predetermined height.

5 said means including a relatively movable ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set cylinder and piston, 011e of which is conmy hand. neeted to the meter support, and means With- PHLU? MUELLER. 

